Parlor game.



No. 822,721. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

J. A. S. GHEVOLLEAU. PARLOR GAME.

APPLIOYATION FILED JUNE 14, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I, I WITNESS s: INVEIV TOR PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

J. A. S. GHEVOLLBAU.

PARLOR GAME.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1905.

2 SHEETBSHEET z ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT PARLOR GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed June 14,1905. Serial No. 265,163

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH ARTHUR S. OnEvoLLEAU, a resident of Kingston, Jamaica, British WVest Indies, have invented a new and Improved Parlor Game, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to parlor games and resembles the games of billiards and pool.

The object of the invention is to produce a table upon which an amusing and interesting game may be played, the rules of the game being designed to put a premium upon accuracy and judgment.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresp ending parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the table upon which the game is played. Fig. 2 is a plan of the table. Fig. 3 is a vertical central cross-section taken upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the parts, A represents the table upon which the game is played. The body of this table resembles very closely that of an ordinary billiard-table, the same being provided with an accuratelyleveled slate or floor B, upon which the balls may be rolled about. The edge of the table is formed with a guard-bank C, which operates ordinarily to prevent the balls from rolling from the table.

As indicated most clearly in Fig. 2, the t-able is rectangular in form. Upon its central transverse axis, which is at right angles to the long axis of the table, a plurality of pockets D are formed. These pockets are arranged in a single row traversing the table, as indicated, and they are located an equal distance apart, as shown. The slate or floor B of the table is provided with a plurality of banks, (indicated, collectively, by the character E.) As indicated, these banks are arranged symmetrically with respect to the table and the row of pockets D. The banks E comprise main banks E, which are slightly curved, as shown, and lead from a point near the extremity of the table to a point near the outermost pockets of the row. The adjacent extremities of the banks which lead from opposite ends of the table do not abut, but lie a slight distance apart, as indicated.

Between the banks E intermediate banks E E and E are arranged, and these banks are disposed somewhat similar to the banks E, being arranged in opposite pairs which diverge toward the central line of the table. The members of these intermediate banks which lie adjacent are located slightly apart, like the banks E, described above, and all of the extremities of the banks which lie adj acent to the rows are disposed at points lying between the pockets D. As indicated in Fig. 2, the arrangement is such that between the banks E and E two pockets will be located, while between the banks E and E one pocket will be found. Between the banks E and E two pockets are located, and between the pairs of banks E three pockets are located. In this way the surface of the table is divided into a plurality of outwardly-diverging alleys which communicate through a central alley F, leading in from each end of the table toward the central pocket. As indicated, the distance between the outer extremities of the pairs of banks diminishes regularly in the direction of the central axis of the table, so that the alley F converges in this direction, as will be readily understood. In the alleys thus formed between the banks a plurality of spurs G are arranged wherever two pockets or more occur in any alley. The extremities of these spurs remote from the pockets are pointed, as indicated, and their sides are curved. In the central alley there are two of these spurs. These spurs, like the banks, are arranged symmetrically and project in both directions from the central transverse axis of the table.

The game will be played with a plurality of balls H, which will be put in play by cues K, similar to the cues used in playing billiards or pool, and'the general object of the game is to drive the balls into the pockets. The particular manner in which the game is played will appear more fully hereinafter.

Referring especially to Figs. 3 and 4, the construction of the pockets will now be described. The mouths of the pockets are formed by openings L through the slate B. Beneath these openings a plurality of bags or nets Z are hung. Into these nets the balls will fall much in the same manner as they fall into the pockets used on pool-tables. I provide means for ejecting all the balls from the pockets simultaneously. For this purpose I provide a transverse batten M, which is disposed transversely of the table, lying directly beneath the pockets, as indicated. At suitable points the body of the table is formed with recesses m, which constitute guides for the extremities of this batten, enabling the same to be guided upwardly in a vertical direction. Upon the upper side of the batten M a plurality of studs m are attached, and these are located directly beneath the nets Z and the openings L. To the under side of the .batten M, preferably near its central point, as at m I attach the extremity of a lever m the said lever being pivoted to a bracket m and having its extremity m projecting to a convenient point near the edge of the table. This lever is adapted to be operated so as to force the batten M upwardly, at which time the studs m will be forced up through the openings L, pushing up the nets and raising the balls to' the elevation of the surface of the table, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 4. Referring now to this figure, the arrangement will be described for normally maintaining the batten in a lowered position and for returning the same to its normal position. For this purpose on each side of the batten M a cleat O is provided, and at opposite points these cleats O are connected by saddles 0. Through these saddles pass guidestems 0 the upper extremities of which rest against the lower side of the slate B. Springs 0 surround these stems and are attached at their extremities to the under side of the batten and to the saddles 0. From this arrangement when the lever is operated so as to raise the batten and then released the springs will operate instantly to draw the batten down to its normal position.

The table described above constitutes a double table. In practice a duplication of the banks on opposite sides of the row of pockets may not be present, and in this case the table would constitute a single table. With the double table the game would usually be played with players standing near each end of the table; but with the single table they would stand near the entrance to the central alley at the end of the table remote from the pockets.

The game is played with balls of di'lferent colors, and the general object of the game, as stated above, is to lodge the balls in the pockets. This maybe done usually either directly by driving a ball with the cue, so as to project it into a pocket, or by striking one ball with another, as a cueball, so as to project the object-ball into a pocket. The score depends upon what pocket the ball lodges in and also upon the color of the ball.

I prefer to call the game Bilbag. When playing this game upon the double table, the rules would be, in part, as follows: Each table is supplied with twenty-four ballstwo black, eight red, eight white, and six yellow.

The pocket nearest the outer edge of each side of the table scores one; the second pocket, two; the third pocket, five, &c., as

indicated in Fig. 2, while the center pocket penalizes ten for a black ball and five for any other. The object of the game is to strike against a ball or a bank so as to pocket one or more balls. Each ball must be struck in putting it in play from a point anywhere outside of the balk-line.

As indicated in Fig. 3, the cross-section of the banks is preferably such as to present concave side faces 0 and projecting contact edges e, against which the balls would impinge, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A table adapted to have a game played thereupon and presenting a transverse row of pockets and a plurality of banks disposed in pairs and adapted to direct balls toward said pockets, said banks converging at their extremities remote from said pockets, the extremities of said banks remote from said pockets being disposed apart whereby a central alley is formed leading toward the central members of said pockets.

2. A table adapted to have a game played thereupon and presenting a transverse row of pockets and plurality of banks disposed in pairs, and having their inner extremities disposed at points between said pockets, the outer extremities of said banks converging and lying apart whereby a central alley is formed therebetween, said banks being disposed apart whereby side alleys are formed adapted to guide balls toward said pockets, and spurs disposed within said alleys and adjacent to said pockets. I

3. A table of the class described, having a plurality of pockets and a member below said pockets and having upwardly-disposed projections and means for actuating said member to eject balls from said pockets.

4. A table of the class described, having a plurality of pockets comprising depending bags in which balls may lodge, a batten disposed below said pockets and presenting a plurality of studs projecting upwardly, and a ever for actuating said batten.

5. A table of the class described, having a plurality of pockets comprising depending bags in which balls may lodge, a batten dis posed below said pockets and presenting a plurality of studs projecting upwardly, a lever for actuating said batten, and springs constraining said batten downwardly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. ARTHUR S. OHEVOLLEAU.

Witnesses:

A. CoTLIN, ERNEST L. VENDYEs. 

